Mechanism for arranging and aligning bowling pins



M. PATTERSQN ETAL 2,932,512

April 12 1960 MECHANISM FOR ARRANGING AND ALIGNING BOWLING PINS 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 28, 1949 INVENTOR ATTORN Y April 1960M. PATTERSON ET AL 2,932,512

MECHANISM FOR ARRANGING AND ALIGNING BOWLING PINS Original Filed Dec.28, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pi \0v 2\ w 0 w V s v Q Q v I w IHHHI l vApril 12, 1960 PATTERSON ET AL 2,932,512

MECHANISM FOR ARRANGING AND ALIGNING BOWLING PINS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Original Filed Dec. 28, 1949 INVENTOR MOREHEAD PATTERSON ALEXANDER c.WALL BYGERHARD s. THIEM Q cm April 12, 1960 M. PATTERSON ETAL 2,932,512

MECHANISM FOR ARRANGING AND ALIGNING BOWLING PINS Original Filed Dec.28, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR MOREHEAD PATTE SON ALEXANDER C. WALLBY GERHARD G.THIEM ATTORNEY April 12, 1960 M. PATTERSON ET AL 2,932,512

MECHANISM FOR ARRANGING AND ALIGNING BOWLING PINS Original Filed Dec.28, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.. 6

INVENTOR MOREHEAD PATTERSONI ALEXANDER G. WALL GERHARD G. THIEM TTORY'MEfiHANlSM FOR GING AND ALIGNING BOWLING PINS Morehead Patterson, NewYork, N.Y., Alexander C.

Wall, Noroton, Conn, and Gerhard G. Thiem, Southwiclr, Mass, assignorsto American Machine & Foundry (lompany, a corporation of New JerseyOriginai application December 28, 1949, Serial No. 135,3fi6, now PatentNo. 2,726,086, dated December 6, 1955. Divided and this applicationJanuary 7, 1955, Serial No. 480,318

7 Claims. (Cl. 273-43) This invention relates to bowling pin spottingmachines and more particularly to bowling pin spotting machines havingimproved mechanisms for orienting and aligning bowling pins in such amanner that they are subjected to a minimum of handling and wear andtear from the time they are received in the pit of a bowling alley untilthey are placed in spotted arrangment on the playing bed of a bowlingalley.

The invention consists of a bowling pin spotting machine havingmechanism located in the pit of a bowling alley which receives,distributes, aligns and arranges a plurality of bowling pins in uprightarrangement for delivery from said pit by means which grip and transfersuch aligned upright pins from the pit of the alley and place them inplaying arrangement on the playing bed of the alley.

This application constitutes a division of our copending applicationSerial Number 135,396, filed December 28, 1949 for Mechanism forArranging and Spotting Bowling Pins, now Patent 2,726,086, grantedDecember 6, 1955.

in machines embodying such types of pin handling mechanisms, pins aresubjected to considerable tumbling, wear and tear, and also suchmachines are quite noisy due to the manner in which pins are handledduring their removal from the pit and subsequent travel to theirrespective spotting devices.

The present machine constitutes a solution of these problems because itmakes possible the arranging, distribution and alignment of bowling pinsin the pit of an alley. Therefore handling and movement of pins arereduced to a minimum because there is no need for removing pins from thepit in order to effect their delivery in spotted arrangement on thespotting bed of an alley. Indeed, according to our invention, pins aredelivered into aligning members in the pit of an alley where they arealigned and then positioned in handle upright arrangement ready forremoval and placement in playing arrangement on the playing bed of thebowling alley with which the machine embodying our invention isassociated.

Our invention'therefore contributes to increased speed in the handlingand'spotting of pins on the playing bed of an alley, and also tends toincrease the life of pins because of less wear and tear in theirhandling and arrangement for spotting.

It is an object of our invention to provide a novel bowling pin spottingmachine including means for arranging bowling pins in the pit of analley ready for removal therefrom for placement in spotted arrangementon the playing bed of a bowling alley.

Our invention also consists in the provision of improved mechanism foraligning and arranging bowling pins and means coacting therewith forplacing them in conventional triangular playing arrangement on theplaying bed of the alley.

Our invention also consists in the provision of bowling r Ice pinaligning and erecting mechanism consisting of a plurality of side byside bowling pin receiving cavities or pockets, and erecting meansassociated therewith operative to align a plurality of bowling pins,such as a set of ten pins commonly used in the game, and after they arealigned, position them in upright arrangement in order that bowling pinhandling means coacting therewith can effect the placement of such pinsin triangular playing arrangement on the playing bed of an alley.

Our invention also consists in the provision of novel bowling pinmanipulating and aligning mechanism wherein bowling pins are distributedin transversely arranged pin receiving, aligning and erecting pocketsfor subsequent delivery and placement in playing arrangement on theplaying bed of a bowling alley.

With these and other object not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in certain combinations and constructions which willbe hereinafter fully described, and then set forth in the claimshereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification andin which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Figure l is a view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showingmeans for aligning bowling pins in the pit of a bowling alley, and meansfor transferring aligned bowling pins from the pit to the bowling alleybed;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment or" pin shapedaligning mechanism in the pit of a bowling alley in conjunction with pinagitating, and pin erecting mechanisms used therewith;

Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation showing one of the pin shapedcavities, and its pin erecting mechanism in conjunction with the pinagitators;

Figure 4 is a plan View of a single pin receiving cavity;

Figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating the interrupted reciprocatingmovements of the pin agitators; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic View of a suitable wiring diagram for thecontrol mechanism of the invention.

With reference to the drawings, the invention consists of a bowling pinspotting machine provided with novel pin orienting and aligningmechanism as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. This mechanismoperates in conjunction with and in synchronism with a pin pick-uptransfer and positioning mechanism designated generally T, shown inFigure l. The preferred embodiment of the pin orienting and aligningmechanism, designated generally 29, is located within pit l of a bowlingalley AL, and consist of a suitable transverse board or platform 12,which in the illustrated embodiment eX- tends over substantially theentire area of pit P between kickbacks KI, and from adjacent to headerboard of alley AL to cushion CU at the rear of pit P.

Platform 12 is supported at its front and rear portions by suitablebrackets 14- and 16 which are secured to transverse bearing plates 18and 19 (Figure 3) respectively, each of which at its ends is suitablyfastened to and held by the inner walls of kickbacks KI of the bowlingalley. Since ten pins are generally used in the playing the game,platform 12 is provided with ten equally spaced pockets or cavities 22arranged in a row extending transversely of the pit l. The number ofpockets may, of course, be changed as desired. Each cavity has thegeneral outline of a pair of pins placed butt end to butt end so that apin may fall into each cavity 22 either forwardly or backwardly.

Each cavity or pocket 22 includes a pair of vertical side walls 24preferably shaped to conform with the shape and outline of a cavity 22.The bottom of each pocket 22 is formed by two slightly curved andinclined hinged members 26, each of which at its lowermost end isloosely mounted on a horizontal shaft 28 supported in suitable bearingsin pocket walls 24. Shafts 28 are mounted parallel and fairly close toeach other in the center and lowermost portion of each pocket '22. Theupper free side edges of each member 26 are supported in pin receivingposition and against free downward movement by plates 30 (Figures 3 and14) extending outwardly from the lower edges of Walls 24. The upperportion of each member 26 is provided with a slotted cross bar 32 inwhich the upper or free end of a suitably shaped erector arm 34'canslide. Arm 34- is attached to the center of horizontal shaft 28. It willbe evident, therefore, that each pocket has a pair of pin erectingmembers 26 and a pair of erector arms 34, which when swung upwardly,move a pin from prone to upright position. The two shafts 28 in eachpocket are operatively connected for simultaneous operation by a pair ofintermeshing gear segments 36, one segment 36 mounted on each shaft. Onesegment of each pair of segments 36 is provided with an arm 38 connectedby an adjustable rod 40 to an actuating lever 42. The several levers 42are secured to a transverse horizontal shaft 44 mounted in suitablebearings (not shown) attached to the inner walls of kickbacks KI. Shaft44 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) is oscillated by means of three identical camlevers 46 mounted thereon. Levers 46 carry cam followers or rollers 47running on suitable identical cams $8, all attached to transverse camshaft 50. Secured to earn shaft 50 is a sprocket 52 (Figures 1, 2 and 3)which is driven at the proper time through a chain 55 from a sprocket 56(Figure 1) on main cam shaft 128. It is evident that'at the proper timein the operation of the machine, oscillating motion of shaft 44,effected by the rotation of cams 48, causes each pair of gear segments36 to rock shafts 28 in such manner that the two shafts23 of each pairof shafts 28 turn in opposite directions. Since each shaft 28 is securedto an arm 34 which engages with a hinged member 26, this motion causesthe two members '26 in each cavity to move upwardly towards each otheror downwardly away from each other, the latter representing thelowermost position as shown in Figure 3, while the former represents theraised position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. The space betweenthe two shafts 28 in each cavity is bridged by means of a suitablyshaped plate 37 secured to ribs 39 extending between the bearings ofshafts 28 in pocket walls 24.

When in pin receiving position, as shown in full lines in Figure 3,members 26 in each pocket or cavity 22 are in their down positions, andtogether with the bridge plate 37, form the bottom of their respectivepockets 22. After a pin has dropped or been directed into each of thepockets 22 and they are filled, all members 26 in proper timed relationduring the operation of the machine are moved into an upright position(Figures 1 and 3) thereby causing each pin in its respective pocket tobe erected and brought into handle end upright position in such a mannerthat all erected pins are standing in aligned arrangement across pit P.7

During the playing of the game, after each ball of a frame is rolled andseparated from the pins and returned to the bowler by any suitable means(not shown), fallen pins which have not rolled off alley AL or droppedtherefrom are swept by suitable means from the alley and gutter into pitP. Pins dropping or swept into pit P tend to roll into empty pockets 22. However, in order to facilitate their entry into empty pockets 22,and insure that each pocket 22 will be filled with a pin, there isprovided a number of agitators or pin arranging members 54- for thispurpose. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, and as illustrated schematicallyin Figure 5, agitators 54 are so mounted and operated that they sweeptransversely across pit P above pockets 22 and propel pins not alreadylocated in pockets 22 back and forth until such pins drop into and fillany empty pockets 22. Each pin agitator of the number disclosed in thepreferred embodiment selected for purposes of illustration consists of ayielding or. flexible rod, such as a self-supporting cantilever mountedspring 54 (Figures 2, 3 and 5). Agitators 54 are arranged horizontallyin two rows opposite and extending towards each other, each rod orspring 54 reaching a little more than half way across the row of pocketsor cavities 22 in pit P.

Each spring rod 54 at one end is provided with a stud 57 secured to alug '58. One set of lugs 58 is secured to and properly spaced on atransversely extending endless chain 60in the rear of the pit. Anotherset of lugs 58 is properly spaced on and securedto an endless chain 62in the front portion of the pit and parallel with chain so. The frontand rear sets of agitators 54 are arranged in a staggered manner and areso spaced and their motion so controlled that when pins lying onplatform 12 are ongaged and displaced thereby, each spring rod 54 duringthe interruption of its reciprocating travel across pit P will come torest substantially on the center line between two' cavities 22 oradjacent to the outer edges of the two outer cavities 22 at the sides ofthe pit. This arrangement and operation insure that there will be noobstruction to the entry of pins into cavities 22 when the movement orchainsfiil and 62 is interrupted. Rear chain 66 and front chain 62 aredriven by means of sprockets 54 and 66, respectively, both sprocketsbeing mounted on a shaft 68 which in turn is intermittently operated bya suitable reversible gear reduction motor '76 (Figures 2 and 3). Rearchain of is guided along a generally rectangular path of travel overidlersprockets 72 mounted on studs 74 in transverse bearing plate 19.Front chain 62 is also guided along the same path of travel over idlersprockets 76 mounted on studs '78 in transverse bearing plate 18. i

The transverse reciprocating intermittent or interrupted movement ofspring rods or agitators 54 is illustrated schematically in Figure 5,and for this purpose spring rods 54 in this figure are numbered from Ito VII. Spring rods I, III, V and VII are shown as extending from andmounted for movement by rear chain 60. Spring rods II, IV and VI areillustrated as extending from and mounted for movement by front chain62. Lines B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and J indicate the center lines betweenpockets or cavities 22. Lines A and K indicate lines or positionsadjacent the extreme outer walls of the two end pockets 22 at oppositesides of the pit. The positions of the spring rods or agitators 43illustrated in Figure 5, are their normal or rest positions, ready to beset into operation to direct pins into pockets 22. After pins have beenswept by sweeps from the alley into the pit, a suitable coutrolmechanism disclosed and described in said Patent 2,726,086, starts andstops motor 70 in such mannor that chains 60, 6 2 are alternately movedand stopped as they travel agitators 54 back and forth across pit P. Forexample, in the operation of a typical agitator, say spring rod VII, asshown in Figure 5, when motor '70 is started, rod VII moves transverselyover cavities 22 from position A to position C. Motor 70 is then stoppedand rod VII dwells at position C until motor '70 is started again. Thissame operation takes place as rod VII progrosses from positions C to E,E to G, G to I, and I to K.-

When rod VII arrives at position K, motor 70 is reversed and 'rod VII ismoved in the same interrupted manner in the opposite direction along thesame path over pockets or cavities 22 until it reaches its originalstarting position A. After a short stop, the interiupted motions of thechains 60 and 62 and rods I to VII continue in the same direction and inthe same interrupted manner until spring rod I arrives at position A, atwhich time motor 70 is reversed again and spring rod I is moved againacross the top of the cavities in the opposite direction until itreaches its original position at line K. If, at that time, all cavitiesor pockets 22 are filled, motor 70 is stopped; members 26 are actuatedby cams 48 and move the pins in the cavities 22 to upright position.While the ,movement of rods I and VII only has been mentioned, it willbe readily apparent that rods II to VI have a similar operating motionback and forth across pit P.

The reason for the preferred interrupted or intermittent motion of thespring rods 54 is to give bowling pins, lying in pit P after beingengaged and moved by a rod or agitator 54, time to roll or workthemselves into adjacent empty cavities 22, and not be kept continuouslyin motion before they are able to come to rest or move into cavities 22below the plane of the rods 54. With this arrangement, pins are notknocked together or worn as they would be if continuously agitated. Theycan roll or drop away from rods 54 sufficiently to move downwardly intoan empty pocket 22, so that on subsequent forward or reverse motion,rods 54 can pass over pins in pockets 22 without disturbing them. Thuspins continue to orient themselves in the bottom of the cavities orpockets 22 if they have not already done so. Since the depths of thecavities or pockets 22 are less than the diameter of the pins, eachcavity can receive only one pin and therefore flexible rods 54 brush orpropel loose or free pins transversely across pit P until these pinsfind empty cavities or pockets 22 and fall in. As mentioned heretofore,each cavity 22 has the approximate outline of a pair of pins placed buttend to butt end, so that the pins may fall into the cavities 22 with thehead ends thereof directed either forwardly or backwardly.

It is desirable to protect chains 60 and 62 from the impact of pinsfalling or tumbling into pit P and onto platform 12. Therefore chain 60is shielded by a suit ably shaped guard plate 80 secured to a horizontalflange of bearing plate 19. Chain 62 is protected in a similar manner byguard plate 82 attached to the lower portion of header board B0 attachedto the pit end of alley AL. To maintain spring rods or agitators 54horizontal and increase their stability during their movements, andwhile moving pins, the top portions of brackets 14 and 16 are providedwith transversely extending guide rails 84 and 26, respectively. Theserails serve as guides and supports for flexible agitators 54 on chains62 and 60, respectively.

When all cavities or pockets 22 are filled, pins contained therein, asmentioned heretofore, are moved from prone to upright position by meansof the upward movement of all members 26. This operation effects alifting of the head ends of all pins in pockets 22 which in proneposition are off center relative to the centrally located butt ends, andat the same time, the upright pins are aligned in a single file acrossthe pit.

As the result of the operation of the mechanism described above, a fullset of pins is oriented and aligned in the pit of a bowling alley readyto be removed therefrom and spotted in playing arrangement on the pinsupporting portion of alley AL. The method employed eliminates thenecessity for elevating each pin to a position above the pit where eachpin is conveyed by gravity or otherwise into orienting, aligning anddistributing mechanism. As a result of the present invention, orientingand aligning takes place rapidly, and the wear and tear on pins isreduced to a minimum.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, pin transfer andspotting mechanism T normally occupies the position shown in full linesin Figure 1. The desired movement of mechanism T is effected by cam 126which is tracked by cam follower 124 on lever 120. The free end of lever12ii is attached to link 1118 to which is secured a rack 116 meshingwith gear segment 114- fixed to shaft 1'12. Shaft 112 supports a pulleyon which runs a cable 108 having its free end attached to mechanism T.Thus depending on the tirne and extent of rotation of earn 126,mechanism T is moved to the desired spotting and respotting positionsT1, T2 and T3. The pin transfer and spotting mechanism T is describedand claimed in our Patent 2,726,086, and therefore further detaileddescription thereof is deemed unnecessary and is omitted in the interestof brevity.

After all pins have been swept into the pit P, a push button 220 isdepressed momentarily. This causes the energization of relay 222 whichis locked in through its own contact A and through normally closedcavity switches 210 and 212. When a pin occupies a cavity, it depresseseither switch 210 or 212, depending on the position of the head of thepin. Therefore, when all cavities are filled the current to lock incontact A of relay 222 is interrupted and relay 222 is immediatelydeenergized. Contact B when relay 222 is energized is closed whicheffects the starting of control motor 224. When relay 222 isde-energized contact B is broken, but control motor 224 is kept inoperation through a normally closed contact C on relay 222 and by meansof contacts 241 which'are kept closed by means of cycle control cam 240until the end of each cycle. At the completion of each cycle, a highspot on cam 240 opens contacts 241 and an intermediate spot on cam 236throws switch 242 into a neutral position, thus stopping control motor224 and reversible gear reduction motor 70. All cavities 22 are thenfilled and agitators 54 are at rest in their original startingpositions.

The mechanism described above makes possible a rapid and simplealignment and arrangement of bowling pins for subsequent handling anddelivery to a pin spotter for placement on a bowling alley.

What is claimed is:

l. A pin orienting and assembling mechanism for a bowling pin spottingmachine, comprising a support, a plurality of assembling and aligningpockets carried by said support, means for delivering pins in irregulararrangement onto said support, and members movable above said pocketsfor engaging irregularly arranged pins on said support, means for movingsaid members back and forth relative to said pockets for directing saidpins into empty pockets, and means operative in response to the fillingof each of said pockets with a pin for moving all of said pinssubstantially simultaneously into a position substantially at rightangles to the plane of said pockets.

2. A pin orienting and assembling mechanism for a bowling pin spottingmachine comprising a support, a plurality of assembling and aligningpockets carried by said support, means for delivering pins in irregulararrangement onto said support, opposed elongated agitating meansextending longitudinally of and movable back and forth above saidpockets in planes substantially parallel to the open faces of saidpockets, the direction of said movement lying in planes substantially atright angles to the open faces of said pockets whereby irregularlyarranged pins on said support are engaged and directed into emptypockets, and means operative after each of said pockets has been filledwith a pin for moving said pins into a position substantially at rightangles to the plane of said pockets.

3. A bowling pin assembling and aligning mechanism for a bowling pinspotting machine, comprising a substantially horizontal support, aplurality of spaced pin receiving and aligning pockets formed in saidsupport, said pockets being positioned beneath the plane of the surfaceof said support, a plurality of bowling pin agitating devices, meansmounting said devices for movement in a plane above and substantiallyparallel with the surface of said support, mechanism for operating saidmeans to cause said devices to engage irregularly arranged pins restingon said support and move such pins into empty pockets, and control meansoperatively connected with each of said pockets for incapacitating saidmechanism when all of said pockets are filled with pins.

4. A pin aligning and assembling mechanism for a bowling pin spottingmachine, comprising a plurality of spaced pin receiving pockets, each ofsaid pockets being provided with a central portion conforming generallyin contour with the portion of a bowling pin bounded by a plane passingthrough its longitudinal axis at its point otmaximum diameter andthebasevof, the bowling pin and providedwith two end'portionsjfextending outwardly from said central portion, said end portionsconforming generally in contour with the handle end'of a bowling pin, apair of opposed pin lifting plates forming the bot tom of each of saidpockets,means for feeding a bowling pin into each of said pocketswhereby the handle end of said pin lies in one of said end portions, andmeans for substantially simultaneously moving said plates upwardly toswing or to lift the pin in each of said pockets and thereby arrange aplurality of pins in vertical aligned positions.

5. A pin orienting and aligning apparatus for a bowling pin spottingmachine comprising a pin receiving member, means for deliveringirregularly arranged pins to said member, a plurality of pin receivingand aligning pockets mounted adjacent said member, and arranged in apredetermined pin receiving pattern, means for directing a plurality ofirregularly arranged pins into said member, devices located above saidpockets for engaging said irregularly arranged pins in said member andmoving said pins'into said pockets, means for effecting stepwiserelative back and forth movement between said pockets and said devicesfor directing pins to each of said pockets, with timed intervals betweensaid Steps" to permit free movement of pins into said pockets.

6. A pin orienting and aligning apparatus for a bowling pin spottingmachine comprising a pin receiving mechanism having a plurality of fixedpin pockets arranged in a predetermined pattern arrangement, meansdirecting a plurality of pins into said mechanism and onto said pockets,movable means extending longitudinally of said mechanism "for engagementwith'pins' resting on said pockets to move said pins relative theretoand dispose a pin in each of said pockets, means for moving saidlast-named means stepwise back and forth above said pockets, with timedintervals between said steps to permit free movement of pins into saidpockets, and means for substantially simultaneously removing all of saidpins from said pockets.

7. A pin aligning and assembling mechanism for a bowling pin spottingmachine, comprising a plurality of spaced pin receiving pockets, each ofsaid pockets being provided with a central portion conforming generallyin contour with the portion of a bowling pin bounded by a plane passingthrough its longitudinal axis at its point of maximum diameter and thebase of the bowling pin and.

provided with two end portions projecting outwardly from said centralportion, said end portions conforming generally in contour with thehandle end of a bowling pin, a pair of pin supporting plates forming thebottom of each of said pockets, and means for substantiallysimultaneously removing all of said pins out of said pockets. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,292,738 Estabrook Jan. 28, 1919 1,911,436 Cone May 30, 1933 2,518,457Fretter Aug. 15, 1950 2,628,098 Bauerschmidt Feb. 10, 1953 2,726,086Patterson et a1. Dec. 6, 1955

